Israel will strike those who attack its citizens, and all those who
support them, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said following a
rocket attack on the southern town of Eilat onThursday, adding that
the Sinai has long become a base for terror attacks against Israelis.

The premier´s comments came after a grad rocket exploded near a
residential area in the southern Israeli city of Eilat near the
border with Egypt; no injuries or damage were reported, but some
Eilat residents were said to be suffering from shock.

Security forces found traces of the rocket near a building site in
the Shahamon neighborhood early Thursday morning, about 150 meters
from a residential area, after strong explosions shook the city
approximately twenty minutes after midnight on Wednesday.

Security forces continued to search for traces of more rockets,
thought to have been fired toward the city from the Sinai Peninsula.

Ron Gertner, police commander for the Eilat district, said that,
according to estimates, "the rocket was fired from the Sinai area,"
adding that “investigations will continue in the morning, and only
after their completion will we be able to reach any final
conclusions.”

Later Thursday morning, Netanyahu, speaking at an event marking 40
years to the operation against the hijackers of Sabena Flight 571,
said that the Sinai has long became a launching ground for terror
attacks against Israeli citizens.

"We´re building a fence. The fence won´t stop rockets, but we´ll find
a solution for the rockets too," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel
will "attack those who attack us and their backers, in this case as
well."

In another response to the attack on Eilat, Defense Minister Ehud
Barak said Thursday called the strike "a serious incident."

"We´re studying the incdieent and we will target those who shoot at
Eilat and attempt to hurt Israeli citizens. There will be no
compromise in the matter. The security situation in the Sinai forces
us into a different kind of confrontation," Barak added.

Speaking after the attack on Eilat, defense officials indicated
Thursday that there were no clear warnings of the intention to strike
the southern town.